In Loving Memory of Presley Jean Paterson

Fin : 4 octobre 2024

FINAL UPDATE Raylene has transferred the funds from the ATB account so the online fundraiser will officially end tomorrow, October 4th! The bank cannot share the names of people who have deposited into this account and there have been some anonymous donations in the online portal as well - please know that we appreciate each and every person who has contributed to help us reach our goal. When Teagan and Ryan first talked about trying to sponsor a room, we had thought that it would be fitting if we could fund 2 years since Presley was so close to her 2nd birthday when she passed away and her family accessed the house many times in her short life. 💗 NEXT STEPS: From talking to other parents in our community who have children with medical that require visiting the city to access care, it is apparent that there is still work to be done in raising community awareness about the Ronald McDonald Houses and all of the ways that they can help support the families of sick kids. (**Did you know that, thanks to donations and the majority of “staff” being volunteers, families only pay $10 per night to stay at the house and access all of its services? Did you also know that anyone can contact the house to purchase a gift voucher to be put towards a families account?**) Therefore, please continue to help us keep Presley’s memory alive by continuing the conversation about RMH Edmonton (and others in Alberta) and by spreading the word to those parents who may be struggling and unaware that the house is there to help ease some of the burden. 💗 We have also been considering how we might continue Presley’s legacy into future years and have been brainstorming some ideas for some small, informal events to continue to support the house which we hope may come to reality in the coming years 💗 Thank you again everyone! ❤️ SEPTEMBER 16 UPDATE: Happy Heavenly 2nd Birthday to our beloved baby girl Presley - on your birthday, and every day, you are so loved, missed and remembered. We all miss you more than you could ever imagine. We can't begin to express our appreciation to everyone who has contributed to this fund which will help extend the sponsorship of family suite 336 at the Edmonton house, which will soon be named in Presley's memory, beyond the first year that has already been funded by her parents. When the funds from the ATB account are added, we will be very close to meeting our goal of sponsoring a second full year in her memory. It is a comfort to know that she will leave behind this legacy, which will help ease the burden for other families who need to travel far from home for long periods to receive medical care for their children. Thank you again for all of your love and support - there are no adequate words to express how much Teagan, Ryan and all of our families have appreciated all of the thoughts, prayers, acts of kindness and generosity that have been shown by so many throughout Presley's medical journey and through the other challenges that our families have faced over the past couple of years. This sponsorship is just one way that we hope to continue to "pay it forward" to try to ease the burden for others in similar circumstances. Note: When this online fundraiser ends, if there are extra funds over and above what is needed for the suite sponsorship, we will work with RMH staff to ensure that they will be put towards an area of greatest need. Take care and hug your families. SEPTEMBER 2 UPDATE: Last week, Teagan, Ryan and Brynley made a donation to Ronald McDonald House Northern Alberta and sponsored a private family suite for a full year. The memorial plaque that will be mounted outside of the door has yet to be made, but soon room 336 will be “Presley’s Room”. This room was chosen, as right outside the door, there is a beautiful stained glass window of a sunrise and when the sun shines through it in the morning it absolutely glows. This is also a meaningful location, as this window was part of the original house and when Teagan was a Ronald McDonald House kid it always added a bit of happiness to the start of our day. The idea of having Presley remembered in this way is comforting to her family, and while Teagan and Ryan have funded the first year, we are hoping to keep her memory alive by extending the sponsorship of this suite to future years. The fundraiser is off to a good start in allowing this to happen, and so we appreciate the generosity of everyone that has contributed either directly to RMH through Presley’s online fundraiser or by making a deposit at the Manning ATB Financial branch (these funds will be added to the campaign soon as well). The online campaign will stay up until September 30, two weeks after what would have been Presley’s second birthday, for those who would like to contribute. To “Tour the House” and learn about some of the services it offers check out this video. A few things at the house have been updated, but things are mostly the same, so this is a great video for anyone who is unfamiliar. I also wanted to include this video link because at 0:37 the seating area under the stained glass window is featured. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1akbLAg83g4 ORIGINAL POST: Presley Jean Paterson passed away peacefully in the arms of her mom and dad and surrounded by her aunties, uncles and grandparents at the Stollery Children’s Hospital on August 2nd, 2024 just six weeks shy of her second birthday. We were all so very blessed to have had this beautiful, sweet and brave little girl in our lives for 686 days. She has left an indelible mark on each of our hearts, and we all the better for having had such a special girl in our lives - even if only for a very short while. Though she struggled with medical issues since infancy, she was the toughest kid we knew and we never imagined that we would all have to say goodbye to her so soon. Presley’s Journey: At only 3 months old, Presley had her first of many seizures and was eventually diagnosed with a neurological disorder called CDKL5. Over the next 20 months, she was transported by air ambulance and was hospitalized at the Stollery Children's Hospital over ten times due to seizures and other complications resulting from this disorder. The Edmonton Ronald McDonald House was truly a blessing for Presley's family and continues to be a blessing for so many others. Though her mom would remain at the hospital with Presley, the house was a place to go for a hot shower, a home cooked meal prepared by volunteers, to take care of necessities such as laundry, and to connect with other parents with sick children. Most importantly, the house provided an affordable, child-centered, home-away-from-home so that Presley's big sister and her dad could stay close by and spend time together as a family during her extended hospital stays. When her dad and sister were unable to be there, the house also allowed other family members to stay to visit and support Presley and her mom. Presley also stayed at the house from time to time, as she often needed to remain close to the hospital after discharge. During Presley’s last hospitalization, a special memory was made, as her quilt room voucher was used to select a quilt that her auntie had made and donated the month before. This quilt was a physical reminder of all of the love and support from family and the wider community and was a great source of comfort to both her and her mom, both before and after her passing. Presley’s name has now been added to the Butterfly Wall at the house to ensure that her time there will never be forgotten. Her parents also wish to leave a lasting legacy in Presley’s name by making a substantial donation to the Edmonton Ronald McDonald House. We ask that those who also wish to honor Presley’s memory do so by making a donation to the Edmonton house (please choose the "custom donation" option) AND, if they wish, leaving a condolence message for her family on the donor wall. (For those who are not comfortable with an online platform, donations can also be made in-person at the ATB Financial Manning Branch or by contacting Raylene Landry either through the Messenger app or by text at 780-836-6147.)